Social Worker 

Ecumen Hospice Owatonna is hiring a Social Worker to serve the Mankato area. The Ecumen Hospice mission is to provide care that exceeds the expectations of those that find themselves in the later stages of life by providing a level of comfort and quality of life that makes each person feel honored and supported as their life continues to have significance.

Ecumen is an industry leader dedicated to advocating for older adults by providing housing choices, compassionate healthcare, and innovative services. For 160 years Ecumen has cared for those in need. Now, as Minnesota’s 8th largest senior living provider, we continue to advocate for those we serve.

Join a team where you can make a difference in advancing our mission to serve our older adults, while we commit to creating a place where everyone belongs.

Social Worker 

This position is responsible for providing direct social work services to hospice patients and their family members and caregivers in need of identified social worker services, and providing them with psychosocial and environmental support. 

Essential Job Responsibilities Include: 

1. Perform initial and ongoing assessment of the psychosocial status of terminally ill patients and families/caregivers related to the patient's condition and environment. Provide community resources,  short-term anticipatory grief counseling, emotional support and end-of-life education to patients and family/caregivers. 

2. Perform initial and ongoing assessment of the family/caregiver’s bereavement risk and provide appropriate resources/interventions. 

3. Perform ongoing monitoring and assessment, including but not limited to: family dynamics, caregiver ability to provide safe and effective care, communication patterns, backup planning for alternative living situations, assess for safety including issues of neglect or abuse.  Develop interventions based on findings as warranted. 

4. Participate in the development of the individualized plan of care, involving the patient and family in the plan of care.  Attend regularly scheduled interdisciplinary group meetings, assisting the team in recognizing the effects of the psychosocial stressors. Maintain clinical records on all patients referred to social work. 

5. Assist patients and families/caregivers in planning for funeral arrangements; provide resources for financial, legal, and health care decision responsibilities.

6. Facilitate care conferences with hospice team and family to ensure open lines of communication and understanding of hospice philosophy and services as well as an understanding of the dying process. Provide bereavement follow up per agency protocol.

7. Assist with coordination of Mosaic Moments, nursing home/residential hospice placement, respite stays and travel contracts as needed.

Minimum Required Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s Degree in social work.
• Licensed Social Worker in good standing in Minnesota.
• Two or more years of social work experience in a health care setting.
• Ability to communicate effectively in both written and verbal formats.
• Ability to follow all safety rules, regulations, policies and procedures of the facility including but not limited to: Vulnerable Adult and Abuse Policy, HIPAA, Resident’s Bill of Rights, Universal Precaution, AWAIR, OSHA, Right to know, SDS, ADA, HUD Policy and Procedures, Fair Housing laws and regulations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in social work
• LGSW and ultimately LISW or LICSW license.
• Previous experience working with seniors
• CPR certification

Ecumen is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE).  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, familial status, disability, or status as a protected veteran.    

Ensuring the safety and well-being of our residents, patients and staff is one of our highest priorities at Ecumen. To ensure we are complying with CMS guidelines, this position requires candidates to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or submit for an exemption request prior to starting employment.

We participate in E-Verify.